Residents Beware: City Warning Fake Letter from ‘Department of Water’ Circulating
Ainsley Smith
The City is warning Toronto residents of a fake letter that appears to be from the “department of water” and is being sent to homes.
The letter, which has an official-looking City of Toronto logo, falsely claims it’s from Lou Di Gironimo, general manager of Toronto Water.
READ: Toronto Police Warn of COVID Scams Targeting Residents Working From Home
The City says the letter is from a “false” department of water and is in regard to lead pipe replacement that results in a charge to a resident’s utility bill and that it’s “fraud.”
The fake letter says the City is carrying out water main replacement work in the fall of 2020 and says the cost of the work is “estimated” at $38,000, half of which will be charged to the resident’s utility bill. The letter adds that there will be further correspondence with the resident to outline “the terms relating to cost in the coming months.”
Notice of fake letter from #CityofTO. Letter from false “Department of Water” about fall 2020 lead pipe replacement resulting in a charge to your utility bill is fraud. Report it to Toronto Police through non-emergency line at 416-808-2222. pic.twitter.com/hlnlvPdBPP
— 311 Toronto (@311Toronto) May 1, 2020
As photos of the letter began circulating online, Twitter users have pointed out the phone number listed actually belongs to Toronto’s infamous strip club the Brass Rail.
Any residents who receive this letter are being asked to report it to Toronto police through the non-emergency line at 416-808-2222.
This comes at a time when Toronto Police are also warning residents of a spike in COVID-19-related scams targeting those working from home. This includes residents receiving text messages demanding banking information to receive payment for fines related to leaving the house too many times in a day.
Ainsley Smith
When Ainsley's not writing about real estate, local developments, and beautiful homes she wished she lived in, you can usually find her exploring Toronto, cooking, doing at-home workouts, or hanging with her cat, Jerry Seinfeld.
More From Author
